Historical Trajectories of Qatar’s Survival Strategy

This article explores the historical evolution of Qatar’s survival strategy and its complex relationship with other GCC states. We examine the historical background of the disputes between Qatar and its major neighbors, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, to identify the roots of the ideological and geopolitical clashes that ultimately resulted in the Qatar crisis of 2017. We argue that Qatar’s independent and frequently GCC-opposing politics are the consequence of a lengthy historical trajectory characterized by challenges to and disputes over its territorial existence and sovereignty that, along with the failed coup of 1996, have had a significant impact on the shape of modern-day Qatar.